Starting primary school
A guide to enrolling your child in a public primary school in NSW. Learn more about selecting a school, what support is available, and what to expect in the first term.
Primary school begins in kindergarten and goes to year 6. To enrol, children must:
- children can start Kindergarten at the beginning of the school year if they turn 5 on or before 31 July that year.
- by law, all children must be in compulsory schooling by their 6th birthday.
Public school education is free, but most schools request voluntary contributions to help cover costs.
Getting children ready to start primary school can involve many steps over an extended period. These include:
- understanding catchment zones
- how to choose and find a school
- immunisation requirements
- what to do (and when) for a child with disability or learning needs
- transition to primary school programs.
Once enrolled, there's after school care to consider, as well as:
- dealing with new routines
- playing your part with homework
- sharing safety information, particularly around pick-up time and location
- what's involved in becoming part of the school community.